FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2026

Contact: Chelsea Connor | cconnor@rwdsu.org | 347-866-6259

STATEMENT FROM RWDSU ON DOLORES HUERTA PASSING

(NEW YORK, NY) – The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) mourns the passing of Dolores Huerta, a fearless organizer and civil rights icon who helped change the course of the American labor movement.

Dolores Huerta dedicated her life to making sure working people were not powerless in the face of exploitation. She helped farmworkers organize, challenged powerful interests, and proved that when workers stand together, they can win dignity, respect, and a better future. Her fight for immigrant rights and economic justice helped shape a movement that continues to inspire workers and organizers today. Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) issued the following statement:

“Dolores Huerta didn’t just fight for working people, she helped show them their own power. She understood that justice is never handed down; it is won when people organize, stand together, and refuse to be silenced.

“At a time when workers are being pushed to the margins and immigrant communities are under attack, her legacy is more than a source of inspiration. It is a call to action. We honor Dolores by continuing the fight for every worker to have a voice, a union, and the dignity they deserve.”

RWDSU extends its deepest condolences to Dolores’s family, loved ones, and the countless people whose lives she changed. Her work is not finished as long as workers are still fighting for justice.

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The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) represents 100,000 members throughout the United States. The RWDSU is affiliated with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). For more information, please visit our website at www.rwdsu.org, Facebook:/RWDSU.UFCW, Twitter:@RWDSU, Instagram: @rwdsustrong.